Exhauster



June 14, 1932. A RQWLEY` A 1,863,454

EXHAUS TER Filed Aug. 6, i930 L 2 sheets-sheet 2 l we/325927' Y ff' Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STA-Tas ARTHUR C. ROWLEY, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 GLOBE/JAU'TO-v MATIC SPR-INKLER COMPANY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, Il?ENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA EXHAUSTEB Application ned August e, i930. semaine. 473,450.V

This invention relates to automatic sprinkler systems ofthe dry pipe type, and the principal object of the invention is toprovide an improved exhauster operative under predetermined conditions to effect `a rapid relief of pressure in the dry pipe system. i Y j Another object is to provide an improved device sensitive to pressure drop in the dry pipe system for rapidly exhausting the said system upon a pressure drop in the latter of predetermined amount and rapidity.

Still another object is to provide an exhauster of the stated character that` shall be automatically self-compensating for pressure drops in the dry pipe system occurring at a rate not exceeding' a predetermined minimum, and which shall be actuated only by a pressure drop in the system exceeding the predetermined minimum both as to amount and rate.

The invention further resides incertain novel structural and operating features and details hereinafter setorth and illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an exhauster made in accordance with my invention, and l Fig. 2 is a plan view of the exhauster.

`lith reference to the drawings, the exhauster in a preferred embodiment comprises a casing 1, the interior of which is divided by diaphragms 2 and 3 into three chambers designated respectively 4, 5 and 6.

. The chamber 4 is adapted through a port 4a for connection to a dry pipe system, and a second port- 4l) constitutes an outlet or exhaust opening for this chamber and is normally closed by an interiorly seated valve 7. A spring 8 is provided which exerts a pressure of predetermined strength tending t0 retain the valve 7 on its sea-t. A

Extending upwardly from thev valve 7 through a guide 11 is a stem 9 which at its upper end is secured to the diaphragm 2, the stem 9 extending throughthe diaphragm and having a longitudinal passage 12 terminating at its opposite ends in the chambers 4 and 5 therebetween. The joint between the stem 9 and the guide 1.1 is a relativelyy loose one 'of a non-pressure retaining Acharacter l:whereby iuid pressure is permittedto passjmoreor less freely. from tl'ielower'part of the cham?` ber 4 into theupper part thereof above the guide iangell.' j

The casing 1 has a third port13 in thewall of the chamber 5, this port being normally closed by a valve 14slidable'withinalcylinder 15 in the casing extending inwardlyfrom the said port. j The'valve 1 4'has a stem 16,'which extends transversely into the interior of the chamber 5 and whichhas alongitudinally re-r cessed end portion `17 slidably'engagedvithin a port 18 at theside of the chamberoppolsite thev port 13. A spring 19fconined be'- tween the casing and a collar ,21 on thestem 16 exerts a predetermined pressure tending toretain the valve 14 on its seat closing the p0rn 1a A guide diaree Carried-by. ai@

stenr16 fits slidably within the cylinder 15 and constitutes a support andl guide for the valve end of the stem.` This disk 22 isper; forated or isrecessed at the edges, however', to permit free passage of iiuid,vand it will also be noted that the valve 14 'isloo-sely fitted within the cylinder 15, thereby also to permit free passage of fluidV from the interior of the casing to the said port.V j i f` i Pivotally mounted at 23 in the casingl is a lever 24, the lower bifurcatedl portion of which, embracing the stem 16, engagesthe inner face of the collar 21,. The upper'porf tion ot the lever 24 is normally engaged by a projection 25 depending from the underside of the diaphragm 3. The plate 26 to'which the lever 24 `is pivotally secured and in which the projection 25 is guided preferably'is pro,- vided With openings affording tree Apassage of fluid to the under side of the diaphragm 3. Thev port 18 connects with a bypass channel 20 in the wall of the casing extending'upwardly to the chamber 6, this passage where it enters the latter chamber being restricted by a pin 27 made preferably of a non-corrodible material, such as mono metal. The outer or head end of this pin is secured within a hollow screw 28 threaded into the casing, through which screw the said pin 27 is introduced and in which it is retained'by means of an inner screw 29. The pin 27 almost entirely closes the port 31 where the passage 17 connects with the chamber 6.

In ractice and as previously set forth, the cham er 4 is connected through the port 4a with the dry pipe sprinkler system, which system contains air pressure in excess of' atmospheric, this air pressure being relied upon to maintain on its seat the dry pipe valve connecting the dry pipe system with the water mains and thereby excluding Water from the dry pipe system. Pressure in the dry pipe system and in the chamber 4 is transmitted through the passage 12 in the valve stem 9 to the chamber 5, and thence through the bypass 1 8-20-*31 to the chamber 6. Following equalization of pressures in the chambers 4, 5 and 6, after the manner set forth, the pin 27 effectively traps the air pressure in the chamber 6. The fact thatpthe pin 27 does not completely close the port 31 permits leakage Abetween the chambers 4y and 6 sufficient toeffect equalization of the pressures within the said chambers for minor or slow pressure drops in', the dry pipe system. Assuming, however, a rapid leakage of air from the system due,ifor example, to the opening oi va sprinkler head,V the consequent sudden and substantialdrop in pressure within the chambers 5 and 6 creates` a differential at opposite sides of the diaphragm 3, causing the latter to be o flexed Vdownwardly and thereby, throughv the lever `24, withdrawing the valve 14 from its seat and opening the port 13. Opening of the port 13 results in an immediate and lrapid relief of pressure in the chamber 5, and creates a momentary pressure differential at opposite sides of the diaphragm 2, causing the latter to be flexed upwardly and elevating the valve 7 fromits seat.v The exhaust port 4b is thereby opened with a consequent complete and rapid relief of pressure in the dry pipevsystem and admission thereto through the dry pipe valve previously mentioned of waterfrom themain.

It will be noted that the spring 19 affords a means for determining the pressure differential in the chambers 5 and 6 required for retraction of the valve 14, it being necessary toovercome the pressure of the spring in opening the valve. The operative differential may thus be regulated as desired by selection of thespring. Similarly, the size of the pin 27 controls the minimum rate of pressure drop in the system required for actuation of the valve v14 by controlling the leakage of pressure from the chamber 6 to the chamber 5, and this minimum rate may thus be regulated as required. Actuation of the exhauster may thus bemade dependent not only upon a predetermined minimum pressure drop but also upon a predetermined minimum rate at Y which the drop occurs. Actuation of the exhausterdue to normal slow leakage from the system is thereby avoided.

There may be considerable structural modification without departure from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an exhauster for dry pipe systems and the like, the combinationwith a pressure relief valve for said system, of control means for said valve including a. pressure-actuated element, means providing pressure areas at opposite sides of said element, a port v'for each of said areas through which the latter communicate with said system, and a pin of non-corrodible alloy detachably inserted in one of said ports to relatively restrict said port as compared with the other whereby a pressure change in the system occurring at a rate exceeding a `predetermined minimum creates a pressure differential between said areas and consequent actuation of said element.

2. An exhauster unit for dry pipe systems and the like comprising a casing having an opening constituting an exhaust port for said system, a valve normally closing said port,

and control means forA said valve including' a 3 pressure-actuatedmember defining independent pressure areas in the interior of said casing, a port for each of said areas through which the latter communicate with said System, and an element of non-corrodible alloy i occupying a position in one of said ports relatively restricting said port as compared with the port of the' other area whereby a pressure change in the system occurring at a rate exceeding a predetermined minimum creates a l" sage between the first-named chamber and a second chamber, said second chamber also having an exhaust port, a valve controlling the last-named port and operatively connected to the other of said partitioning members, asecond passage connecting the second chamber with the third chamber. an element of non-corrodible alloy detachably inserted in said Second passage to relatively restrict the latter with respect to the first-named passage, and means for retracting said element from the exterior ofthe casing.

ARTHURI C. ROVVLEY. 

